5 things you should do to prepare yourself to lead a strategic planning session
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy

5 things you should do to prepare yourself to lead a strategic planning session

Every company and organization has them…or at least they should if they want to remain relevant and viable. Some conduct strategic planning sessions quarterly, others but once a year or so. There really is no “right” number. We hold them at least once a year, and for most companies that’s probably sufficient. You will need...
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Is doing what you do getting you what you really want?
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision

Is doing what you do getting you what you really want?

Start-ups are, in many ways, a lot easier than leading a seasoned company or organization. Once systems, methods, and procedures are in place they can become part of the corporate identity. Indeed, they become you and you become identified as them. If they work, okay. If they move your department, company, or organization toward your...
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7 ways to know the difference between strategies and tactics
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision

7 ways to know the difference between strategies and tactics

The vision: Liberate Europe, defeat Germany and Italy, then establish a new world order The strategy: A cross-channel invasion followed by succeeding maneuvers to push the enemy back, destroy their ability and resolve to wage war, bring about their defeat. The strategy was called Operation Overlord. The tactics: pre-assault aerial bombardment, land troops, fight the...
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The Battle of the Bulge and you, what bungled intelligence gathering means for your business
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy

The Battle of the Bulge and you, what bungled intelligence gathering means for your business

I watched an enlightening program yesterday on the Battle of the Bulge. After successfully breaching the “Atlantic Wall,” as the Nazi defenses were called, Allied forces had the German army on the run. By December, 1944, things were going very well for the Allies and very badly for Hitler. It was the concerted opinion of...
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5 reasons why hope is not a valid strategy
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy decision decision-making Effective Leadership Leadership planning strategy Values

5 reasons why hope is not a valid strategy

Hope is not a strategy but it is an essential attitude. One of the best employee associates I ever had was a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. I have always loved working with military people. Their training firmly builds within them a “can do” mentality and a fixation on mission objectives. This one was no...
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9 things your associates and team absolutely need to make the journey towards vision. What Lewis and Clark shows us about effective leadership and the pursuit of vision.
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy decision decision-making Effective Leadership Leadership planning strategy Values Effective Leadership employees Leadership Motivation strategy vision

9 things your associates and team absolutely need to make the journey towards vision. What Lewis and Clark shows us about effective leadership and the pursuit of vision.

Undaunted Courage is one of the great stories in American history. When Merriweather Lewis and William Clark departed St. Louis in May, 1804 on what was then called the Corps of Discovery Expedition, they actually failed in their stated purpose. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to find “the most direct and practicable water communication across...
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The magic word – planning
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy decision decision-making Effective Leadership Leadership planning strategy Values Effective Leadership employees Leadership Motivation strategy vision Effective Leadership Leadership management organization planning strategy tactics vision

The magic word – planning

What’s the magic word? The guest speaker was seated on the stage, ready to deliver his keynote address. On his right sat the coordinator of the event, the person responsible for pulling all the many strands together to create a worthwhile encounter for speakers and participants alike. On his left sat one of the other...
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7 ways to kill strategic implementation of vision before it gets off the ground
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy decision decision-making Effective Leadership Leadership planning strategy Values Effective Leadership employees Leadership Motivation strategy vision Effective Leadership Leadership management organization planning strategy tactics vision Leadership management strategy vision

7 ways to kill strategic implementation of vision before it gets off the ground

It was to be the biggest and most comprehensive realignment of health care ever. When President Obama engineered the Affordable Care Act the vision for the project was grand and promising. (NOTE: I am NOT concerned about politics here. I reference this ONLY because it is a graphic and present example of how things go...
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Leadership’s happy family – Vision, strategy, & tactics
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy decision decision-making Effective Leadership Leadership planning strategy Values Effective Leadership employees Leadership Motivation strategy vision Effective Leadership Leadership management organization planning strategy tactics vision Leadership management strategy vision associates Effective Leadership employees Leadership management strategy tactics vision

Leadership’s happy family – Vision, strategy, & tactics

One non-profit agency operating in Africa opened restaurants as part of its fund-raising strategy. A charitable organization working on the African continent developed a focused vision and successfully imprinted it upon those who worked in the organization both in the US and in Africa. The board and the organization’s director turned their attention to the...
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Step 5 – develop and define tactics
developing capable people leader qualities leadership development strategy Effective Leadership Leadership management planning productivity strategy tactics vision planning strategy tactics vision decision-making Effective Leadership planning strategy decision decision-making Effective Leadership Leadership planning strategy Values Effective Leadership employees Leadership Motivation strategy vision Effective Leadership Leadership management organization planning strategy tactics vision Leadership management strategy vision associates Effective Leadership employees Leadership management strategy tactics vision strategy tactics vision

Step 5 – develop and define tactics

By now your vision should be defined, focused, and articulated. You should have enough confidence in it that you are able to promote it enthusiastically and unequivocally. Plus, your strategic plan should be taking shape. Based on the vision, your personal and corporate values, and shaped by the marketplace and your constituents, you will have...
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